In January 2022
In January 2022, I applied for a posistion in Sofia. After disclosing a family member (in an unrelated department), I was instructed by a World Bank HR representative to 'voluntarily withdraw' my application to amend my profile, with the assurance I could re-apply.
The result: Following this official advice triggered an irreversible system block on my candidacy. My application was dead.
For four years, I sought justice through the Bank's internal channels: HR Operations, Ethics & Internal Justice (EIJ Case MSG27404604), and finally the Ombudsman. The unanimous response was refusal to correct an error caused by their own staff. EIJ found "no misconduct," and the Ombudsman declined to intervene.
The lesson for all candidates: The World Bank's internal justice mechanisms are designed to protect the institution, not the individual. You can be permanently barred from a career opportunity simply for following instructions given by their own HR.
I share this not out of spite, but as a public service. Prospective employees deserve transparency and fairness.
